A method and device for producing an optimized neck contour on preforms below the neck which is optimal for subsequent stretch blow molding. The geometry has a significantly thinner wall thickness than the neck itself. The preform can only be produced in the injection molding tool, when axial channels are used on the point or the vanes produce the thin points on the preform during injection molding. The thin-walled geometry on the preform can be produced outside of the mold during post-cooling by embossing. The preform is then removed in a cooled receiving sleeve and is cooled in the body by intensive contact cooling while no cooling contact is made with the preform neck due to the initial position of the embossing element. Due to the reheating of the neck they can be mechanically deformed into a new geometry advantageous for blow molding and thus wall thickness can be influenced.

A method for receiving and ejecting molded articles includes: (a) drawing air from a cooling tube cavity into an air channel through a plate bore to draw at least a portion of a molded article into the cavity; (b) moving a valve within the plate bore from a first position for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to a second position for reducing air flow through the plate bore relative to the first position; and (c) when the valve is in the second position, urging pressurized air from the air channel to the cavity through the plate bore to assist ejection of the molded article from the cavity.

A cooling plate assembly includes (a) a cooling plate having a plate front surface; (b) an air channel extending within a thickness of the cooling plate; (c) a plate bore extending into the cooling plate from the plate front surface for providing fluid communication between the air channel and a cavity of a cooling tube mountable to the cooling plate; and (d) a valve within the plate bore. The valve is movable between a first position in which a first air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel, and a second position in which the first air flow passage is obstructed to reduce air flow between the cavity and the air channel, and in which a second air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the air channel to the cavity.

A method for cooling molded preforms includes transferring preforms of a first injection cycle from a mold to retained engagement on a take-out plate, the preforms having exterior surfaces and interior surfaces targeted for cooling. The preforms are released from cooling tubes of the take-out plate to retained engagement on cooling pins of a transfer shell spaced away from the mold. The transfer shell rotates and the preforms are released from the transfer shell to retained engagement in supplemental tubes of a supplemental cooling device. After a period of time the preforms are released from the supplemental cooling device and transferred back to retained engagement on the transfer shell. The transfer shell rotates to an unload position to eject the preforms from the transfer shell for evacuation from the machine.

An apparatus for the manufacture and unloading of preforms for the manufacture of plastic containers includes a device for the injection molding of preforms and a device for the cooling and extraction of the preforms from the molding device, and further includes a device for the selective extraction of a predetermined subset of preforms supported by the unloading plate in an orderly manner along at least one pickup direction. The apparatus also includes a component for the orderly transfer of the predetermined subset of preforms to a control and inspection device adapted to perform at least one control on the predetermined subset of preforms.

An injection molding machine includes a base; a pair of platens supported by the base, the platens supporting respective mold halves to form a mold; and a part-handling apparatus for holding and treating articles from the mold, the part handling apparatus separate from the mold. The part handling apparatus includes a take-out plate including at least one set of first cooling receivers for receiving and retaining a first set of molded articles from the mold, the first cooling receivers conductively transferring a first amount of thermal energy away from the first molded articles; and a supplemental cooling plate comprising at least one set of second cooling receivers for receiving and retaining the first set of articles; and the second cooling receivers conductively transferring a second amount of thermal energy away from the first molded articles.

A method for the production of an injection-molded part including casting an injection-molding material at least two injection-molding stations by at least two injection-molding processes. A pre-molded part, produced in one of the at least two injection-molding processes, is cooled in a cooling station between the at least two injection-molding processes.

A cooling plate for an injection molding machine includes a plate body, a plurality of sockets in the plate body for receiving respective spigot portions of a plurality of cooling tubes, and a cooling fluid conduit system in the plate body for cooling the cooling tubes. The cooling plate further includes an air conduit system in the plate body for providing air flow communication with the cooling tubes. Each socket forms a blockable flow passage between the cooling fluid conduit system and the air conduit system.

A retaining pin for handling injection molded preforms includes a body including an internal body flow channel, and a plunger coupled to the body and movable relative to the body between advanced and retracted positions. The plunger includes an internal plunger flow channel. The plunger further includes a plunger abutment surface directed away from the body. The plunger is biased toward the advanced position and movable to the retracted position by engagement of the plunger abutment surface with an inner surface of a closed end of a preform when the preform and retaining pin are moved toward each other. The body flow channel and the plunger flow channel are in fluid communication when the plunger is in the retracted position. Fluid communication between the plunger flow channel and the body flow channel is inhibited when the plunger is in the advanced position.

An apparatus includes a cooling pin to slidably extend from a frame and to be inserted into an injection molded article. The cooling pin is hollow to allow for flow of cooling fluid through the cooling pin. The cooling pin has a hole to be in fluid communication with a source of vacuum to draw cooling fluid within the injection molded article into the cooling pin. The cooling pin has a first position with respect to the frame, the first position to allow flow of cooling fluid through the hole. The cooling pin has a second position with respect to the frame, the second position to shut off flow of cooling fluid into the cooling pin.